Shloka 1

मारीचाश्रमगमनम्

Ravana’s Journey to Maricha’s Hermitage

Devanagari script

ततश्शूर्पणखावाक्यं तच्छ्रुत्वा रोमहर्षणम्।सचिवानभ्यनुज्ञाय कार्यं बुद्ध्वा जगाम ह।।।।

Transliteration

tataś śūrpaṇakhāvākyaṃ tac chrutvā romaharṣaṇam | sacivān abhyanujñāya kāryaṃ buddhvā jagāma ha ||

Translation

ثمّ لما سمع حديث شوربانخا المُقشعرّ للأبدان، استأذن وزراءه وودّعهم، ومضى وهو يتفكّر في الأمر الذي عزم على إنجازه.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: kāla/krama-avyaya (then/thereafter)

• शूर्पणखा-वाक्यम्: Surpanakha's words
• शूर्पणखा-वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of śrutvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūrpaṇakhā (प्रातिपदिक) + vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; ‘words of Surpanakha’

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative; apposition to शूर्पणखावाक्यम्

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (श्रु) (धातु)
• Form: ktvā-anta (absolutive): ‘having heard’

• रोम-हर्षणम्: horripilating, hair-raising
• रोम-हर्षणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: roma (प्रातिपदिक) + harṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of वाक्यम्; ‘causing horripilation’

• सचिवान्: ministers
• सचिवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saciva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Bahuvacana; object of abhyanujñāya

• अभ्यनुज्ञाय: having taken leave (of)
• अभ्यनुज्ञाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi + anu + √jñā (ज्ञा) (धातु)
• Form: ktvā-anta (absolutive): ‘having taken leave/asked permission’

• कार्यम्: task, business
• कार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; object of buddhvā

• बुद्ध्वा: having considered
• बुद्ध्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √budh (बुध्) (धातु)
• Form: ktvā-anta (absolutive): ‘having understood/considered’

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम्) (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• ह: indeed (narrative particle)
• ह: Sambandha (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: smaraṇa/itihāsa-nipāta (expletive particle, narrative)

Context

Then hearing the horripilating words of Surpanakha, Ravana took leave of the ministers and went thinking about the task ahead of him.

Characters & Entities

• Śūrpaṇakhā
• Rāvaṇa
• Ministers (saciva)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It shows the gravity of counsel and information: decisions should follow hearing and reflection—yet dharma also warns that reflection must be guided by righteousness, not by desire.

What is the narrative situation?

After receiving Śūrpaṇakhā’s report, Rāvaṇa dismisses his court and goes away to plan his next step.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Deliberation as a royal practice—though the narrative foreshadows that Rāvaṇa’s deliberation will serve adharmic intent.